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Iran is considered as a vulnerable country in terms of erosion and degradation of soil resources. One of the solutions that have been proposed in recent years to solve this crisis is to pay special attention to the behavioral, cognitive, and social dimensions of soil conservation behavior in agricultural development programs in addition to the technical aspects. In this regard, a study with a descriptive-correlational and causal-relational method was conducted to identify the most important factors influencing the soil conservation behavior among the Iranian farmers and agricultural community. To this end, a sample of 120 farmers in Mazandaran Province was selected using stratified random sampling with appropriate assignment. The results showed that environmental consciousness, environmental values, and social pressures have significant impacts on soil conservation behavior of farmers. Finally, using the results and insights gained from this study, six practical suggestions have been proposed to managers and policy-makers towards the better management of agricultural soil resources. Application of each of these suggestions can act as a turning point in the improvement of the status of Iran's agricultural sector in general and soil resources in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural environmental beauty preservation has become one of the most important human concerns in the present century, so that visual pollution is considered as a major obstacle to achievement of peace of mind and optimal perfection. In this respect, rural people have a major role in preserving the beauty of the natural environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting the aesthetic behavior of Iranian villagers towards the natural environment. This study was descriptive-correlational and causal-relational and was conducted through a survey technique. Statistical population of this study consisted of all villagers in Kermanshah Province (as an indicator example of Iran) (N= 517,786). By using Krejcie and Morgan’s sample size table and stratified random sampling method, 385 people were selected as a sample. Research instrument included a questionnaire with approved validity by a panel of experts in the field of agricultural extension and education; and reliability of its items was obtained by a pilot study and calculation of Cronbach's alpha (0.64≥ α ≥0.82). Based on the findings, the causal model of factors affecting the aesthetic behavior of villagers was drawn. Results of this causal analysis indicated that ‘place attachment’ (β= 0.275) and ‘environmental aesthetic attitudes’ (β= 0.260) had highest effects on villagers' environmental aesthetic behavior, respectively. Therefore, by focusing on these two variables, the villagers' aesthetic behavior can be enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, a paradigm shift can be observed from economic and technical investments to social-behavioral dimensions in order to increase efficiency of exploiting water resources. The purpose of the present study was to identify and analyze factors affecting Farmers Active Participation in Water Conservation (FAPWC). In this regard, a theoretical framework was developed for analyzing farmers participatory behavior. This study was a descriptivecorrelational and causal relationship research which was conducted through a survey technique. The statistical population of the study included irrigated farmers in southern regions of West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. A sample of 378 irrigated farmers was selected using proportional stratified random sampling method. Data were collected using eight 5-point Likert-type scales. Validity of the scales was confirmed by a panel of experts, and their reliability was demonstrated by Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients which ranged between 0.60- 0.89, indicating internal consistency of the study scales. Parametric tests were used to analyze the data. The results of this study showed that the variables of moral norms of water conservation, social pressures, place attachment, social responsibility towards consequences of activities, quality of agricultural extension services, and satisfaction of water resources management had significant impacts on FAPWC. Moreover, the independent variables could predict 43.6% of variance changes in FAPWC. An attempt was made to examine the factors affecting FAPWC beyond the psychological individual-based (micro) analyses in order to develop the research framework and consider factors such as the effect of farmers’ social environments and, consequently, present policy implications at micro- and macro-levels separately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water conflict is considered as one of the major challenges in agricultural water management. "Agricultural water conflict" is a term describing disputes and differences among water stakeholders over an access to water resources in the agricultural sector. The purpose of this paper was to investigate farmers’ viewpoints toward agricultural water conflicts. A descriptive correlation method was adopted and the study was conducted in Doroodzan dam irrigation network in Fars province, Iran. Multistage stratified random sampling was used to collect data from 294 farmers. The research tool included a questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a group of professionals. A pilot study was conducted during which the Cronbach's alpha test was calculated to determinate the reliability of data collection instrument. Findings revealed that, among the groups involved in water conflicts, the main conflict was between farmers and the government. Farmers in downstream were the main losers in water distribution. The dominant water conflict was "latent" as well. The main reasons for agricultural water conflict were "water scarcity", "drought", and "the kind of water management". Farmers' satisfaction toward water management was "low". Farmers’ age, education levels, satisfaction toward water management, and attitude toward geographical and climatic conditions had a significant relationship with agricultural water conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Coronary angiography has become the largest interventional diagnostic test in recent years. As it has had large effects on anxiety and satisfaction of patients in treatment and care; the objective of the present study is to survey the reasons for which the patients, referring to cardiac ward of Valiasr hospital in Fasa, refuse to undergo coronary angiography. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 individuals candidate for coronary angiography were selected. The samples were selected via census. The tool for collecting the data was a researcher-made questionnaire. The data were analyzed by SPSS-15 software, descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal- Wallis test. Results: The mean age of the samples was 58/9±12/8 years. Financial problems, fear and anxiety, lack of awareness, and lack of confidence in the physician's diagnosis were the most important factors. The effect of fear has been reported more in women compared to men for refusing coronary angiography (p=.037). Conclusion: According to the above results, financial problems, fear and anxiety, lack of awareness, and lack of confidence in the physician's diagnosis are the factors effective in accepting coronary angiography. Therefore, more contrivances are needed to eliminate these effective factors; in order to prepare cardiac patients, who are candidate for coronary angiography, a tranquility to accept and to perform angiography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in collective actions refers to an individual's behavioral, mental, and emotional engagement in group-situations that motivates him or her to achieve group goals, including environmental protection. The present study aimed at analyzing the intention of members of environmental NGOs to participate in collective proenvironmental activities. To do this, the psychological Dual-pathway Model of Collective Action (DMCA) was used. The research method was descriptive-correlational and was done using survey technique. The statistical population included members of the proenvironmental NGOs in Tehran Province, Iran (N= 680). Out of the population, 248 cases were selected as a sample using stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire and its validity was verified using a panel of case experts and AVE index. Besides, the reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficients, principal component analysis, and composite reliability indices. According to the DMCA, the effects of Perceived Behavioral Control variables about Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (PBCCPEA), Attitude towards Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (APCPEA), Subjective Norms about Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (SNPCPEA), Social Identity about Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (SIPCPEA) were tested on Intention towards Participation in Collective Pro-Environmental Activities (IPCPEA). The results show that this model is able to explain 66% of the variance of IPCPEA changes. The results of this study indicate the need for special attention from the perspective of collective action to make significant changes in the creation of IPCPEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Choosing antihypertensive as a drug for treating hypertension is the most important part of its treatment. The present study was done in investigating the consistancy rate of hypertension treatment through Guide Line JNC-7 in patients who were referred to health centers and health houses of Fasa University of Medical Sciences in 2012. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the non-random sample of population was consisted of 200 patients who were suffering from hypertension. The questionnaire contained both demographic information and the use of anti-hypertension medication based on guide line (JNC-7). After the confirmation approval of content validity and reliability of the questionnaire, the data and the descriptive statistics were analyzed through SPSS-15 software. Results: 60 % of the patients were in the first stage of hypertension and 40 percent of them were in the second one. Beta blockers were the most common prescribed drugs which were used among the first stage patients. However, ACEI and Diuretics (Thiazides) were the commonly prescribed drugs for the second stage hypertension patients. Patients who had diabetes and heart failure were used Beta-blocker drugs which was not in line with the Guide line JNC-7. Conclusions: The treatment of hypertension in patients was not in consistence with guideline JNC-7. It is recommended to organize training classes for doctors to inform patients about the better way of treating this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify Professional Competencies (PCs), including General and Specific Competencies (GSCs), of Agricultural Teachers (ATs) working with Students with Special Needs (SSNs), known as exceptional students (1,013 people), in Vocational High School Education System (VHSES) in Iran, within two phases. Accordingly, the main objective of the first phase was to identify General Competencies (GCs) of these teachers. Therefore, in the first phase, the components of teachers' GCs were taken from theoretical literature and research documents via content analysis and the findings revealed that the GCs encompassed 6 components of Instruction Design (ID), Professional Development (PD), Professional Ethics (PEs), cooperation, Perceived Student Diversity (PSD), and technology. The objective of the second phase of this study was also to find Specific Competencies (SCs) of ATs working with SSNs. This phase of the study was conducted using the classical 3-step Delphi technique. In this respect, the specialized Delphi team consisted of 22 ATs working at Iran's Exceptional Schools (ESs), selected through purposive sampling method. Finally, the findings reduced to the identification of 24 SCs for ATs working with SSNs, which were then grouped into two categories of Agricultural Competencies (ACs) and Exceptional Competencies (ECs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this descriptive-analytical research was to analyze the advantages and limitations of agricultural land consolidation in the villages of Dehgolan Township, Iran. The statistical population of this study included 190 farmers in the villages of Dehrashid (where the adaptive consolidation plan was implemented between beneficiaries) and Telvar (in which the plan has not yet been implemented among farmers). The samples were selected from 140 people by using the Krejcie and Morgan sample size table and stratified random sampling method. The data gathering instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire, which was presented to the faculty members of the Department of Rural Geography at Kharazmi University to confirm the face and content validity. Further, the reliability of the tested items was confirmed by using the Cronbach's alpha (α= 0.81). To analyze the data obtained from the farmers' opinions, multi-criteria decision making FTOPSIS (Fuzzy TOPSIS) analysis methods and linear regression in SPSS24 were used. The results of regression analysis indicated that the main obstacles of implementing consolidation in the studied area were "economic" (β= 0.416) and "technical" (β= 0.304). Also, there was a significant difference between the two periods before and after consolidation of agricultural lands in terms of crop production and reduction of operating costs. In general, the effects of consolidation indicated a higher level of crops production per unit area, yield per unit area, income from agriculture and its sustainability, job diversification, and a decrease in immigration in the studied villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the broad applications of nanotechnologies in the present age, there are concerns about its ecological consequences. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to analyze ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture. The research method was descriptive, which was carried out by a survey technique for gathering data. The statistical population of the study included all researchers, experts, and faculty members of national agricultural research institutes and centers across Iran (N=190); out of them, 123 individuals were selected by using Krejcie and Morgan sample size Table along with stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment (n=123). The research instrument was a questionnaire whose face and content validity was confirmed by a number of faculty members of agricultural extension and education and experts in the field of nanotechnology. The reliability of ecological consequences of nanotechnology items was also obtained by a pilot study using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α= 0.78). To identify the ecological consequences of nanotechnology by taking advantage of factor analysis, five factors entitled "social consequences", "health-care consequences", "economic consequences", "cultural consequences", and "biological consequences" were extracted. As a whole, these factors explained 58.40 percent of the total variance of ecological consequences of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the dangers that constantly threatens agricultural sector is soil erosion. The purpose of this study was to investigate and categorize farmers' views on the factors inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in Koohdasht Township, Iran. The study was fulfilled by using descriptive-correlation method. A stratified random sample of 377 farmers was drawn from a population of 19531 farmers in the township, based on Krejcie and Morgan Table for determining sample size from a finite population. The research questionnaire was validated by a panel of faculty members of agricultural extension and education at Tarbiat Modares University (TMU) and found to have sufficient content and face validity. Using a pilot study, internal consistency reliability was demonstrated with satisfactory alpha coefficient (0.73). Descriptive and inferential statistics, i.e., factor analysis, were used to analyze the data. Factor analysis produced four factors: "economic-extension", "ecological-farming", "social-structural", and "organizational-management" which accounted for 49% of the total variance. The factors that emerged suggest the need for some executive measures to overcome the problems inhibiting the implementation of soil conservation practices in future programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]